Status
Checked out
Publication
Quirk Books (2015), 208 pages
Description
"Fanfic, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs and RPGs and MMOs and more - it's never been a better time to be a girl geek. The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy is the ultimate handbook for ladies living the nerdy life, a fun and feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. With delightful illustrations and an unabashed love for all the in(ternet)s and outs of geek culture, this book is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes, including how to make nerdy friends, rock awesome cosplay, write fanfic with feels, defeat Internet trolls, and attend your first con. Plus, insightful interviews with fangirl faves, like Jane Espenson, Erin Morgenstern, Kate Beaton, Ashley Eckstein, Laura Vandervoort, Beth Revis, Kate Leth, and many others"--Adapted from distributor's description.… (more)
Media reviews
I am a fangirl. Mainly of the Marvel, Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter categories, although I have many other fandoms. As a fangirl, this book has helped me tremendously. It has all the info you need. It tells you how to correctly go to a con- from packing your bags the coming back home. It
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tells you how to cosplay, giving some excellent tips, along with some websites that will also help. It explains how to get involved with your local geek community. Overall, this book has everything you need to be a successful geek girl.
I loved this book. I was fangirling throughout the entire book. I would definitely suggest this to any fangirl out there, and I’d also suggest it to anyone trying to understand what your fangirl friend is saying. Now excuse me while I go watch another season of Doctor Who.
Review by: Avalon Palm
Full Reviews Available at: http://www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
A nice light read of an introductory guide to fandom. It's nothing terribly in depth - probably it couldn't be while covering fandom in the general sense in only two hundred pages - but there are some interesting recommendations in the chapter on geek feminism and it would make a cute stocking
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stuffer for the nerdy woman in your social circle. Show Less
LibraryThing member tdashoff
Obligatory Disclaimer - I am most definitely not a fangirl, although I am a fan; one who started his fanac long enough ago that to most young people involved in fandom (including my son) it is the equivalent of the Dark Ages (i.e., pre-Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. - there was an Internet and
The book covers a great many areas that are presumably of interest to a girl interested in fandom, which is so wide an area that it's impossible to go into much depth on anything in the 200-odd small pages the book contains. TV shows, websites, cosplay, cons - everything is noted, but there's not a lot of detail on any given subject. For example, the section on SDCC correctly notes that there will probably be lines for everything (some lasting overnight) and that there is a housing lottery, but misses the point that these days the con is so popular that you almost have to inherit tickets to get any. Also, there is good advice to save up well in advance for a convention you want to attend, but girls at the lower end of the age spectrum who might find this book useful may also find a problem in getting permission to travel cross-country by themselves. The book also suffers from a lack of an index, since many topics are buried deep inside the four chapters.
All in all, this book is a decent introduction to fannish culture for someone who knows what they like but doesn't know how to find others like her. Its best message may be just that; don't be afraid to like what you like, to thine own self be true, and illegitimi non carborundum.
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e-mail, but not much else). So when I read this book, I look at it with a different viewpoint than the expected audience.The book covers a great many areas that are presumably of interest to a girl interested in fandom, which is so wide an area that it's impossible to go into much depth on anything in the 200-odd small pages the book contains. TV shows, websites, cosplay, cons - everything is noted, but there's not a lot of detail on any given subject. For example, the section on SDCC correctly notes that there will probably be lines for everything (some lasting overnight) and that there is a housing lottery, but misses the point that these days the con is so popular that you almost have to inherit tickets to get any. Also, there is good advice to save up well in advance for a convention you want to attend, but girls at the lower end of the age spectrum who might find this book useful may also find a problem in getting permission to travel cross-country by themselves. The book also suffers from a lack of an index, since many topics are buried deep inside the four chapters.
All in all, this book is a decent introduction to fannish culture for someone who knows what they like but doesn't know how to find others like her. Its best message may be just that; don't be afraid to like what you like, to thine own self be true, and illegitimi non carborundum.
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LibraryThing member Watry
Fangirl's Guide is Sam Maggs's ode to loving what you love. It's an extremely cursory guide to fandom, hitting several areas (general internet, fanfiction, cons, cosplay, sharing the love) in around 200 pages, so long-time Internet denizens, fangirls, and feminists like me might not find too much
Despite living only about an hour from Atlanta, I've never been to DragonCon, so I found the section on cons most useful (I'll go eventually! Maybe 2016.), and I intend to copy out the resource pages. I considered giving it to a friend for her pre-teen budding fangirl cousin, but the references to sexytimes might be a bit much.
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of interest. The style is informal and much like what you find on Tumblr, so it's an easy read as well.Despite living only about an hour from Atlanta, I've never been to DragonCon, so I found the section on cons most useful (I'll go eventually! Maybe 2016.), and I intend to copy out the resource pages. I considered giving it to a friend for her pre-teen budding fangirl cousin, but the references to sexytimes might be a bit much.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Free review copy. This is such a positive, welcoming, inclusive book that I feel bad saying that I’m not sure who it’s for. Maybe it’s trying to be the Star Trek Lives! for today’s general media fandom … but I kind of feel like today’s general media fandom is its own Star Trek Lives!,
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though I could easily be wrong. There are a lot of specific suggestions for places to go to find fic, tumblr themes, etc., which could be useful but will date quickly. There are also broader suggestions for things like starting to write fic and going to conventions, including some basics of con and online etiquette. The book is also interspersed with interviews with awesome creative women talking about what being a fangirl means to them; the basic message is: you do you. I guess I’d give this to a 12-year-old who still read physical books and was generally interested in fandom; it does mention that sex happens and that trolls will say horrible things, but this is definitely a more controlled and cheery intro than the internet itself. Show Less
LibraryThing member kissedbyink
This is an adorable book that defines just what a fangirl is. Of course, I already am truly versed in what this is--being that I am one myself. I see this book as being a guide for middle school girls to read for fun.
LibraryThing member sszkutak
I got this book in the mail and immediately started reading it regardless of the fact that it does not come out until mid-May (it was in December when I got it). I loved reading this book. I am a nerd girl, I fangirl over books, tv, and comics; I play World of Warcraft just for the fun of it - I am
Sam does a great job of explaining the various groupings of girl-geeks, the lingo, the fun stuff we do and want to do and I think this is a wonderful book for those timid fangirls waiting to share their nerdiness with the world - or even just their friends. She intersperses her how-to guide with interviews with awesomely nerdy and powerful women talking about being fangirls and how their geekiness has impacted their lives and they are funny, great reads.
My only issue is that it reads a little between the teen and new adult age groups... I think that when some teens read it, it may be a bit over their heads and when some new adult ages read it will be a 'duh' moment - but overall I think it packs a powerful punch, we are girls and we are nerdy and that is great!
This book made me want to do all the nerdy things at ones, watch all the TV shows, movies, read all the comics, graphic novels, and books and go to all the cons in cosplay. Loved it!
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not a serious player by any means; I have attended cons and this book was still up my alley. It was a wonderful overture of the girl-nerd scene and the dos and don't.Sam does a great job of explaining the various groupings of girl-geeks, the lingo, the fun stuff we do and want to do and I think this is a wonderful book for those timid fangirls waiting to share their nerdiness with the world - or even just their friends. She intersperses her how-to guide with interviews with awesomely nerdy and powerful women talking about being fangirls and how their geekiness has impacted their lives and they are funny, great reads.
My only issue is that it reads a little between the teen and new adult age groups... I think that when some teens read it, it may be a bit over their heads and when some new adult ages read it will be a 'duh' moment - but overall I think it packs a powerful punch, we are girls and we are nerdy and that is great!
This book made me want to do all the nerdy things at ones, watch all the TV shows, movies, read all the comics, graphic novels, and books and go to all the cons in cosplay. Loved it!
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LibraryThing member PensiveCat
A how-to guide for those of us who are geekish and female. Tips on attending cons, cosplaying, finding fellow fangirls, and how to deal with the online communities. Could have used this when I was in con-going mode. A quick read and a helpful book to have if you're a bit on the shy side.
LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
I really enjoyed this! It was both informative and fun to read, and it struck a good balance between the variety of subjects - from fandom websites and vernacular to con etiquette and cosplay tips to fanfiction how-tos and media recommendations - and amount of information. It's covers a broad range
Probably not as useful if you’re already deeply involved in fandom, but recommended if you’re just starting out, shyly hanging around the edges, or if you’re on the outside and want to understand fandom a little more. I’ll be lending this to a friend’s teenage daughter next, I think.
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without being overwhelming on any one topic. Probably not as useful if you’re already deeply involved in fandom, but recommended if you’re just starting out, shyly hanging around the edges, or if you’re on the outside and want to understand fandom a little more. I’ll be lending this to a friend’s teenage daughter next, I think.
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LibraryThing member LibStaff2
A beginners' guide for girls, young and not so young, who are new to the world of sci-fi fandom. A fun, quirky, and informative collection of tips for online and IRL (conventions specifically). There's a girl power chapter too with tv show, game, and book suggestions. The last section has a list of
Net Galley Feedback
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some pretty cool websites. Thanks for the Nerdy Nummies inclusion; I now have an excellent Captain America ice cream sandwich recipe! Net Galley Feedback
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LibraryThing member brittanygates
This was a lot of fun to read! It's packed with everything from interviews with writers and artists, to fanfic terms and definitions, to cosplay how-tos. Since it IS more of a beginner's guide, there is not a lot of new info for those of us who have been participating in fan communities for awhile
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already, but I still found it very enjoyable. It's always exciting to meet other fans of the things you love, and reading this felt just like meeting one of those new best friends! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go look up all the cool websites Maggs references at the end of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member kell1732
(Received as Early Reviewers copy from Librarything.com)
I love that this book exists! It's a book that every fangirl should have in their library. Not only is it a fun read sprinkled with some awesome nerd references, but everyone can learn something from this book. I know I did.
I consider myself a
While reading "The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy" I felt even more connected to this community than before. Even though we might be a part of different fandoms, there is one thing that all fangirls have in common, and that is an extreme passion for something that really speaks to us. Knowing this allows us to respect each fangirl's passions. I have never been able to get into anime, but I respect the fangirls that love it as much as I love Star Wars and Dr. Who. They share the same level of passion as I do, just about something else. What's not to respect about that.
I also learned quite a few things from this book. I learned more about some of the lingo used online and what some of the fandoms are called. (Is Star Warrior an actual thing now?) I even learned a little bit more about fanfiction, and it kind of made me want to write some of my own. And one of the best parts about this book—great suggestions for further reading and watching. I think I requested practically every book that Maggs suggests from the library, and I am super excited to start reading some fangirl awesomeness. (However, the first book of Tamora Pierce's Immortals series is call 'Wild Magic' not 'Wild Mage'.) I also learned about The Doubleclicks and they are amazing! They sing songs about nerdery and awesomeness. (They have a song about Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth that I can't stop listening to.)
I loved so much about this little book, but I think I have pin-pointed the three most important things that Sam Maggs talks about in this book.
1.Never feel that you are inferior. Sometimes, male nerds feel that you need to prove your nerd cred by asking questions about your fandom or simply discrediting you automatically. Never let that make you feel like less of a fan. Just because you don't know the exact details of every major DC or Marvel character's origin stories does not make you less of a fan. Maggs reiterates this multiple times, and for good reason. If you love it with a fiery passion, you don't have to prove this love to anybody. The only time someone should be quizzing on your fandom is during Trivia Night.
2.Fangirls have to support each other. Because of the above stated circumstances, we fangirls have to stick together and support each other. If you see a fellow fangirl doing some great work, be it in fanfiction, fanart, or their very own creation, support them. Share it with your friends, on social media, everywhere. Fangirls are more than just fans, we also act as a support group for each other. Always be respectful of fellow fangirls, cause we are all in this together.
3.Feminism is awesome. There are so many misconceptions about feminism, and Maggs does a great job of debunking some of those misconceptions. Feminism is key in fangirl culture and every fangirl should wear their feminist badge just as proudly as their fangirl one.
This book is an essential for any and all fangirls, and it's great to finally see this kind of book out in the world. Sam Maggs is funny and really knows her nerd culture. She's gives some awesome advice about navigating this amazing world of fangirldom. A must read.
I love that this book exists! It's a book that every fangirl should have in their library. Not only is it a fun read sprinkled with some awesome nerd references, but everyone can learn something from this book. I know I did.
I consider myself a
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fangirl, and have for some time, but I do remember the days when I would deny this term believing that it was for overly enthusiastic girls who squeal all the time. Someone would say the word 'fangirl' and I would roll my eyes. It took most of my undergrad years to actually realize that I was a fangirl and that I should wear that badge proudly. The female nerd community is a great thing to be a part of, and I can't imagine life without the periodic nerd sessions that I have with many of my girlfriends.While reading "The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy" I felt even more connected to this community than before. Even though we might be a part of different fandoms, there is one thing that all fangirls have in common, and that is an extreme passion for something that really speaks to us. Knowing this allows us to respect each fangirl's passions. I have never been able to get into anime, but I respect the fangirls that love it as much as I love Star Wars and Dr. Who. They share the same level of passion as I do, just about something else. What's not to respect about that.
I also learned quite a few things from this book. I learned more about some of the lingo used online and what some of the fandoms are called. (Is Star Warrior an actual thing now?) I even learned a little bit more about fanfiction, and it kind of made me want to write some of my own. And one of the best parts about this book—great suggestions for further reading and watching. I think I requested practically every book that Maggs suggests from the library, and I am super excited to start reading some fangirl awesomeness. (However, the first book of Tamora Pierce's Immortals series is call 'Wild Magic' not 'Wild Mage'.) I also learned about The Doubleclicks and they are amazing! They sing songs about nerdery and awesomeness. (They have a song about Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth that I can't stop listening to.)
I loved so much about this little book, but I think I have pin-pointed the three most important things that Sam Maggs talks about in this book.
1.Never feel that you are inferior. Sometimes, male nerds feel that you need to prove your nerd cred by asking questions about your fandom or simply discrediting you automatically. Never let that make you feel like less of a fan. Just because you don't know the exact details of every major DC or Marvel character's origin stories does not make you less of a fan. Maggs reiterates this multiple times, and for good reason. If you love it with a fiery passion, you don't have to prove this love to anybody. The only time someone should be quizzing on your fandom is during Trivia Night.
2.Fangirls have to support each other. Because of the above stated circumstances, we fangirls have to stick together and support each other. If you see a fellow fangirl doing some great work, be it in fanfiction, fanart, or their very own creation, support them. Share it with your friends, on social media, everywhere. Fangirls are more than just fans, we also act as a support group for each other. Always be respectful of fellow fangirls, cause we are all in this together.
3.Feminism is awesome. There are so many misconceptions about feminism, and Maggs does a great job of debunking some of those misconceptions. Feminism is key in fangirl culture and every fangirl should wear their feminist badge just as proudly as their fangirl one.
This book is an essential for any and all fangirls, and it's great to finally see this kind of book out in the world. Sam Maggs is funny and really knows her nerd culture. She's gives some awesome advice about navigating this amazing world of fangirldom. A must read.
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LibraryThing member PaperCrystals
This was a cute, fun little book! Not really designed for those of us with many years of fangirling under our belts, it's a great intro for the younger (or just newer!) set.
I'd highly recommend this as a gift to the little sister or niece who's just realizing that there is a wide world of fandom
Received as part of LibraryThings's Early Reviewers program.
I'd highly recommend this as a gift to the little sister or niece who's just realizing that there is a wide world of fandom
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out there ahead of her. There are tips for going into internet fandoms, planning cons, and even getting started on cosplay.Received as part of LibraryThings's Early Reviewers program.
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LibraryThing member samaside
What an fun book! I loved it. I'm so glad I won it from Quirk Books through Library Thing because it's going to be the absolute perfect present for my little sister. And it was just a super fun read. As a life long nerd and fangirl, this book really resonated with me. It was fun to see all the
Definitely worth a read and the PERFECT gift for veteran fangirls and newbies alike.
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little quirks of fandom laid out on the page. It's not an academic look but a sort of insider look at the sort of stuff we do normally. And it seems like it's a pretty decent guide to first timers. There are sections on starting out with fanfiction and cosplay, navigating the online world, identifying fandoms, and attending your first convention among other things. It's like a crash course in fangirl and while I think for most people it's going to be a cool little novelty book that lets us squee over ourselves and enjoy the validation of all we do and all we have accomplished as fangirls, I think it'd be really helpful to people who are just starting to realize that being a nerdy girl and being a fangirl is okay. We're in a pop culture golden age for the nerds and I think this book could actually be great for some people. It's pretty comprehensive when it comes to just generally being a fangirl. And it has some really great resources for places online to read more about the things you love and find new friends. It's also got some pretty cool, short interviews with some of the more well-known fangirls out there. Definitely worth a read and the PERFECT gift for veteran fangirls and newbies alike.
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LibraryThing member lessthn3
I knew this book would have me hooked from the dedication, because I too was pulled into games with Dad from a young age, including Doom and Myst. As a girl who grew up proudly geeky, a good deal of this book told me things I already knew, but they were things that I reacted to with, "Yes! This!" I
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can only hope that people who don't already know will pick it up and learn from those things. And for what I didn't know, I picked up a wealth of new info and resources! I already have a series of open tabs in Chrome of things to check out, from a new barcade opening soon in my city to a con I had never heard of before this! This book is perfect for both the new and the veteran girl geeks. I can't wait to tell my friends about it! Show Less
LibraryThing member Nightwing
I thought I knew everything there was to know about being a Geeky FanGirl, being as how I have been one since before it had a label. I was so-o wrong. This book was full of things that I had no idea existed, much less I was a part of. It also reaffirmed how cool it is to be a FanGirl. It is useful
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to those who are FanGirls in training, those who are FanGirls but still somewhat new to the world, and those who are longtime members and might be feeling a bit jaded. Fun for all! Show Less
LibraryThing member DanieXJ
That was very nerdy cool. (Although some of the example pairings, ew... ah well, ship and let ship). I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the book (since I didn't know who Sam Maggs is, bad me) but I was happy to see that it really was a quite comprehensive guide to present and current as well
All the rads were a little disturbing (is that a thing again like it was in my youth, I thought that rad was gone for good), but other than that it was a very awesome book.
The interviews were okay, the seven kingdoms of the internet , fanfic, troll stuff, and convention stuff was cool. And the resources section.... OMG (is that still okay to use, the interwebs move so fast). The Resources section was amazing. So many websites, so little time.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Quirk Books.
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as more older nerddom.All the rads were a little disturbing (is that a thing again like it was in my youth, I thought that rad was gone for good), but other than that it was a very awesome book.
The interviews were okay, the seven kingdoms of the internet , fanfic, troll stuff, and convention stuff was cool. And the resources section.... OMG (is that still okay to use, the interwebs move so fast). The Resources section was amazing. So many websites, so little time.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Quirk Books.
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LibraryThing member ligature
This may just be an introduction to fandom, but it still does a great job summarizing all the weird, fun, awesome parts of the geeky spheres on the internet. Although (obviously) aimed at girls, The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy is an enjoyable read for any fan.
LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
Such wise beautiful advice
Chapter on Five Myths about Feminism needs to be read by everyone
Geeky Girl's Litany for feminism - a must read and a way of life my friends
the privilege paragraph made me think - something we all need to be reminded about regularly
Hilarious!
I think we
Extremely useful (and entertaining) information regarding the Seven Kingdoms of the Internet (Must show these to my many non geek friends)
Defining characteristic of Trekkies - yup I have been known to have some of these characteristics - see also Whedonites (yup got the hatred of FOX network)
Appreciated the information on the geek subculture of Otaku, this is one subculture I know very little about
Excellent, practical information about geek conventions
Never heard of geekycon, but now really, really want to go
Fabulous introduction to new kick ass female characters
Found some new YA series that I am interested in checking out
Might let my non-geeky bestie take a gander at it, so she can understand more this part of me
Nice little gift for your fellow nerds
The Not So Good Stuff
Serious lack of Canadian references (I know, picky, picky)
Way too brief
More for the young geek than this old geek
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Your fandoms are like that: fiction, no matter the form, allows you to live a thousand meaningful experiences and relationships that you could never have in real life."
"Still, life is long, and (not to sound like your mom) tattoos are permanent."
"You wouldn't go up to someone in person in person and say horrible things to their face, so don't do it online, either."
4 Dewey's
I received this from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review
Such wise beautiful advice
Chapter on Five Myths about Feminism needs to be read by everyone
Geeky Girl's Litany for feminism - a must read and a way of life my friends
the privilege paragraph made me think - something we all need to be reminded about regularly
Hilarious!
I think we
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should all follow "Wheaton's Law" - Don't be a Dick!Extremely useful (and entertaining) information regarding the Seven Kingdoms of the Internet (Must show these to my many non geek friends)
Defining characteristic of Trekkies - yup I have been known to have some of these characteristics - see also Whedonites (yup got the hatred of FOX network)
Appreciated the information on the geek subculture of Otaku, this is one subculture I know very little about
Excellent, practical information about geek conventions
Never heard of geekycon, but now really, really want to go
Fabulous introduction to new kick ass female characters
Found some new YA series that I am interested in checking out
Might let my non-geeky bestie take a gander at it, so she can understand more this part of me
Nice little gift for your fellow nerds
The Not So Good Stuff
Serious lack of Canadian references (I know, picky, picky)
Way too brief
More for the young geek than this old geek
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Your fandoms are like that: fiction, no matter the form, allows you to live a thousand meaningful experiences and relationships that you could never have in real life."
"Still, life is long, and (not to sound like your mom) tattoos are permanent."
"You wouldn't go up to someone in person in person and say horrible things to their face, so don't do it online, either."
4 Dewey's
I received this from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member CareBear36
I received a copy of this book from BookLikes in exchange for an honest review.
I personally really liked this book. I thought it was a fun, inclusive book that had a very positive message. The artwork was adorable. The writing style was fun and relaxed, often times humorous and easy to relate to.
Now this is in no way a book that everyone has to read. Some reviewers seem to be offended by the book's simplicity, but I think this book is a good starting point if you are interested in ways to express fandom such as going to conventions or critiquing media. Just because you like Harry Potter or Assassin's Creed, it doesn't mean you absolutely have to read this book. Whether or not you read this book does not make you any more or less of a fan of whatever it is that you absolutely love. However, I think it's a very good book with some good information that can be beneficial to a great number of people. Many of the critiques I have read have ranted about how all of the information in this book can be found on the Internet. This is true. But it is also true that having all of that information in one easy-to-navigate book is really convenient and Maggs gives her own interesting insight on each topic. Some things weren't necessary beneficial for me personally. I have no interest in reading and writing fan fiction. But it was still interesting to read and learn more about. The text also includes many recommendations such as "Kick-Ass Female Characters" that embody feminism as well as a resource section of recommended websites for news, cosplay, party planning, and clothing, which gives readers some insight into various things that they may not have known about.
The one thing I did not like was that this book took a very capitalist stance of fandom. A lot of times it focused on the consumerism side of things (what accessories to buy to show your fandom). Even though I personally show my fandom through my extensive T-shirt collection and obsession with superhero Chibis, this is not true for all fans. However, the text also gave focus to DIY cosplay, fan fiction, critiquing media, and making friends within your fandom, so it of course was not completely driven by superficial money-spending.
Overall, I think this is a very good book. I loved the acceptance and positivity that radiates from every page. And I really enjoyed the simple explanation of what feminism is and why it is important to everyone. This is definitely a book worth checking out.
I personally really liked this book. I thought it was a fun, inclusive book that had a very positive message. The artwork was adorable. The writing style was fun and relaxed, often times humorous and easy to relate to.
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It includes helpful tips, cool interviews, and an excellent section on modern feminism as why it is important. I really liked the inclusive message that anyone can be a fan despite how in depth his or her knowledge is and that no one has a right to question whether or not you are a "true fan". The text clearly demonstrated the feminist ideal of accepting all people. Now this is in no way a book that everyone has to read. Some reviewers seem to be offended by the book's simplicity, but I think this book is a good starting point if you are interested in ways to express fandom such as going to conventions or critiquing media. Just because you like Harry Potter or Assassin's Creed, it doesn't mean you absolutely have to read this book. Whether or not you read this book does not make you any more or less of a fan of whatever it is that you absolutely love. However, I think it's a very good book with some good information that can be beneficial to a great number of people. Many of the critiques I have read have ranted about how all of the information in this book can be found on the Internet. This is true. But it is also true that having all of that information in one easy-to-navigate book is really convenient and Maggs gives her own interesting insight on each topic. Some things weren't necessary beneficial for me personally. I have no interest in reading and writing fan fiction. But it was still interesting to read and learn more about. The text also includes many recommendations such as "Kick-Ass Female Characters" that embody feminism as well as a resource section of recommended websites for news, cosplay, party planning, and clothing, which gives readers some insight into various things that they may not have known about.
The one thing I did not like was that this book took a very capitalist stance of fandom. A lot of times it focused on the consumerism side of things (what accessories to buy to show your fandom). Even though I personally show my fandom through my extensive T-shirt collection and obsession with superhero Chibis, this is not true for all fans. However, the text also gave focus to DIY cosplay, fan fiction, critiquing media, and making friends within your fandom, so it of course was not completely driven by superficial money-spending.
Overall, I think this is a very good book. I loved the acceptance and positivity that radiates from every page. And I really enjoyed the simple explanation of what feminism is and why it is important to everyone. This is definitely a book worth checking out.
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Read/Listened for Review (Quirk/Penguin)
Overall Rating : 3. 50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs is an excellent primer for the new girl to the geekdom but for the rest of us it was more just fun to
Quick Thoughts: I totally picked this to review on a whim. I am a Geek Girl. I volunteer at Cons. I cosplay at bookish events. I even game (Alliance Rules, Horde Drools) on occasion (to be hones I am more of an old school gamer: Gabriel Knight, Zeus, Ripper but I do like WOW, StarCraft, and Diablo). I thought maybe I was the target audience for this book but I would say it is more for those on the outside looking in. It is more for those that want to know more or break into the geek world. I thought Sam did a great job at covering the "biggies" in the world. I would totally gift this book to a future geek girl with no problem. It just really isn't for the established geek. Trust me, you already know this stuff!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Holly Conrad, Jessica Almasy / Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
Holly and Jessica did a great job with the narration. They were excited, interesting, and their pacing was spot on. This is a short audiobook and honestly probably the way I would suggest going if you were to pick it up!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
Overall Rating : 3. 50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs is an excellent primer for the new girl to the geekdom but for the rest of us it was more just fun to
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read.Quick Thoughts: I totally picked this to review on a whim. I am a Geek Girl. I volunteer at Cons. I cosplay at bookish events. I even game (Alliance Rules, Horde Drools) on occasion (to be hones I am more of an old school gamer: Gabriel Knight, Zeus, Ripper but I do like WOW, StarCraft, and Diablo). I thought maybe I was the target audience for this book but I would say it is more for those on the outside looking in. It is more for those that want to know more or break into the geek world. I thought Sam did a great job at covering the "biggies" in the world. I would totally gift this book to a future geek girl with no problem. It just really isn't for the established geek. Trust me, you already know this stuff!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Holly Conrad, Jessica Almasy / Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
Holly and Jessica did a great job with the narration. They were excited, interesting, and their pacing was spot on. This is a short audiobook and honestly probably the way I would suggest going if you were to pick it up!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
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LibraryThing member flying_monkeys
Other than its overall message - geek girls are just as relevant and valid as geek boys - the overview of the many different fandoms and the websites at the back were its best features.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
LibraryThing member lycomayflower
Maggs talks about what a fangirl is, identifies some of the major fandoms and what they're about, defines some fandom vocab, offers tips for staying safe online, and gives comprehensive guidance for attending fan conventions. This was a mix for me--a lot of it was stuff I already knew (but most of
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that was entertaining to listen to) and some of it (the stuff about attending a convention) was good, useful info. I almost bought this a number of times when it first came out but passed on it every time thinking "amusing, probs, but probably not a lot of content I don't know." True, for much of the book, but it's always nice to be able to nod along with something, too. If I ever decide that the promised awesome of a con probably will outweigh the awful (travel, crowds, lines, sore feet, lines, crowds), I will probably snag a print copy of this for the con info. It struck me as that helpful. The audiobook was pretty well but together, put the format here would likely work better in print--there are a lot of lists (and a lot of URLs), and that was sometimes a little hard to follow on audio. Show Less
LibraryThing member Vinbert
Fairly entertaining read, it gave some nice links for different fan organizations, and a few chuckles as I recognized debates, etc. that I had been involved in. She definitely did her research, either that, or she's a fangirl of way too many things.. lol
LibraryThing member BillieBook
Meh. I'm obviously not this book's target demographic and it definitely felt more like a how-to than a guide for actually living as a geek girl in the geek world.I also can't get past a factual error that could have been easily corrected with a quick visit to IMDB. (Gina Torres never appeared on
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BUffy, but on its spin-off series, Angel.) Not every fangirl is a fan of the same things or knows everything about their chosen obsession(s), but, in a book, it's really important to get your geek facts straight. Show Less
LibraryThing member GondorGirl
I wanted to like this book. I really did. But what it came down to is that the book is an over-simplified overview of fangirl-dom whose information could have come from a Wiki page. Each section reads like a surface-deep guide written for a child who has never experianced fandom love- not the
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teenage fans the book was probably intended for. It's a shame, because a well-written and researched fandom book could have been used to help teen girls feel confident in their fandoms... Show Less
Awards
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Top Ten — Nonfiction — 2016)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Teens (Nonfiction — 2015)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
208 p.; 5.26 inches
ISBN
159474789X / 9781594747892